Brow Lift

If you suffer from a wrinkled brow or sagging skin around your eyes, you might find that a brow lift is an ideal solution. Brow lifts are simple and safe cosmetic procedures which stretch the skin of the forehead, making wrinkles much less prominent and restoring a youthful appearance to the area around the eyes. It can also be a great way to restore brow symmetry - something which can often be a problem as we age.

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Gallery (1)

quick details

WHO IS THIS FOR

Anyone with a wrinkled forehead who desires smoother skin and a rejuvenated appearance.

People with excess skin around their eyes, either as a result of ageing or significant weight loss.

Those with an "asymmetric brow", resulting in a lack of harmony between the sides of the face.

Brow lifting is more commonly found among patients over 40 when people wish to combat the effects of ageing.

RECOVERY TIME

Expect surgical sutures to be removed within 10 days of surgery.

Swelling may be experienced for a few weeks longer, but improved facial appearance should be evident as soon as two weeks after surgery.

Scarring may be detected in some cases, although this will fade over time. In most instances, the scars are not prominent.

TREATMENT DURATION

Procedure durations vary depending on the type of technique being used.

The vast majority of procedures take from one to two hours and can be carried out without the need for a hospital stay.

SUCCESS

Surveys of brow lifts carried out in the USA have found a success rate of nearly 98%, with the only major side effect reported being temporary numbness.

POTENTIAL RISKS & SIDE EFFECTS

Because incisions are required, scarring around the hairline may be noticeable, although surgeons will try to choose a method which keeps scarring to a minimum.

Numbness in the forehead and scalp is a common side effect. This is usually temporary, and nothing to be concerned about.

Incisions made near the hairline can also prompt hair loss, making any scarring more visible.

In very few cases, asymmetry can result, which will require corrective surgery.

Before And After Pictures (1)

HOW DOES IT WORK?

What is a Brow Lift?

Brow lifts seek to stretch the skin of a patient's forehead, moving it "upwards" towards the hairline. This has a few effects on other parts of the face and generally improve facial appearance. In some instances, the procedure can counteract the effects of palsy syndromes. In others, it stretches skin away from the eyes, making them seem more prominent and mitigating the effects of ageing. In others, the target is skin wrinkles in the brow. So, there are numerous potential aesthetic benefits.

How Does a Brow Lift Work?

There are a few different kinds of brow lift, but they are broadly similar in nature. None of them requires complex surgery or a general anaesthetic, and all can be carried out in a matter of hours by a trained cosmetic surgeon. In a typical situation, the process goes as follows:

1. Consultation

The first stage is arranging an appointment with your cosmetic surgeon. Here, you can set out your aims and concerns, and your surgeon will suggest possible treatments. This may not include brow lift surgery. In some cases, botox or other muscle relaxants may be prescribed.
If surgery is deemed necessary, you will be booked into a suitable clinic. In the run-up to your operation, you may need to abstain from alcohol and stop taking certain medications as they could interact adversely with a local anaesthetic.

2. Incisions and skin lifting

When you enter surgery, you will be given a local anaesthetic. When the area has been anaesthetised, your surgeon will make a carefully chosen incision or series of incisions. These incisions allow them to manipulate the skin of your face, "lifting" it upwards towards the hairline.
In some procedures, surgeons will take extra care to avoid muscles and other tissues by employing tiny cameras beneath the skin. They will then make an additional incision above the hairline to physically lift the skin into place.
In less complex lifting procedures, they may make a single incision above the hairline. The skin can then be lifted until it overlaps with existing skin. Your surgeon will then apply sutures and remove the excess skin.
Finally, your surgeon may elect to make an incision below the hairline, before lifting skin into place.

3. Sutures and recovery

In all cases, when the skin has been manipulated into the correct position and excess skin has been removed, your surgeon will apply sutures to seal the wound. A dressing will then be applied, and you will be discharged from hospital. Within a week, any swelling should have eased, and scarring will gradually fade.

Are There Different Types of Brow Lift?

Yes, a variety of methods exist, and your surgeon will make sure they choose the correct option.
The most advanced method is known as an endoscopic brow lift. As described above, this version involves using a camera to see underneath the skin. That way, surgeons can accurately avoid any nerves and reduce the need for incisions to a bare minimum. This drastically limits the risk of numbness and scarring.
Alternatively, surgeons may use the coronal technique to make an incision from "ear to ear" before folding the skin upwards above the hairline. This contrasts with the similar trichophytic lift, which involves an incision below the hairline. Generally speaking, trichophytic procedures are less suitable for those with receding hairlines but can produce better results if you are able to grow hair just above the incision site.
You may also decide to go for a partial operation. For example, temporal brow lifts target only the area immediately above the eyebrows. These procedures are less drastic, heal faster and are less likely to leave scarring.
These procedures may be supplemented by non-surgical methods as well. Botox is commonly used to relax the muscles which "pull" the eyebrow downwards, making eyes look more alert and youthful. But this is a limited technique which has much less impact than a full brow lift.

What Should I Expect?

Although you will probably be able to return home on the same day as your operation, brow lifts tend to result in an extended period off work. So, plan for at least one week's absence, possibly more. Patients usually feel ready to return to work within two weeks.
You should also expect some swelling and numbness around the scalp and forehead as well as residual pain from the incision sites. This shouldn't last beyond ten days after the operation, at which point your sutures can be removed.
During the period immediately following the operation, expect to change your lifestyle slightly to promote healing. For instance, it's advisable to keep your head elevated, even when sleeping. Avoiding sudden motion and any form of exertion is also a sensible precaution to avoid placing pressure on your sutures. You'll need to take care when showering.
Modern surgical techniques have developed to the point that scarring is minimal. There will be some scars. That's an inevitable part of the procedure. But a skilled surgeon will make sure that these scars are concealed as much as possible. Expect to forget about them over time as your hair grows over the brow.
More importantly, expect significant improvements to your appearance. When done well, brow lifts can make individuals appear much younger, with brighter eyes, smoother skin and a more symmetrical appearance.

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Insider tips

Check out our curated list of tips and things to keep in mind before, during, and after your treatment.

Before treatment

Talk through the process with your surgeon, and consider non-surgical solutions as well. Remember that brow lifts often entail a degree of scarring, and you may not be the ideal candidate for the options available. So, keep an open mind and follow expert advice.

During treatment

Brow lifting requires an anaesthetic, which makes it risky to drive vehicles following discharge. Order a cab or arrange for someone to meet you at the clinic.

It also makes sense to listen carefully to any wound-care advice. In the first few days after discharge, it's vitally important to keep your sutures clean and undisturbed. Clinical staff will supply dressings and help you change your lifestyle to protect your incision site to get the best results.

After treatment

Keeping your head elevated makes a big difference to healing, so consider buying a pillow which wraps around your head, keeping it in place while you sleep.

When showering, use baby shampoos and be very careful when drying. Try to resist the urge to hurry in the bathroom, and dry your hair methodically, "dabbing" the area around your incision as gently as possible.

Try not to worry about numbness. It's a common side effect of brow lifts and almost always eases within a few months. Make a point of arranging follow-up appointments with your surgeon. They will be keen to assess the healing process and may have useful recommendations about how to conceal scarring as the incisions heal.

FAQ

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Where are the incisions made?

The site of your incisions will vary depending on the method being used. Broadly speaking, incisions can be above (in coronal procedures) or below the hairline (trichophytic). In coronal procedures, the incision will stretch between your ears, while the incision may be shorter in trichophytic procedures. If you choose an endoscopic method, 3-5 incisions may be needed - all above the hairline. However, these incisions will be very small compared with other techniques.

Are scars visible?

Not necessarily. While scarring will result from almost all brow lift surgeries, the way the incisions are made can make this scarring virtually invisible. In some cases, surgeons will carefully make incisions along the hairline. A little hair growth can then make them very hard to detect. This is especially true of endoscopic procedures, which leave far less conspicuous scarring than coronal or trichophytic methods.